If I were Houston, I might forget about Anthony and go for Love instead.

[Mencius]

Long term, I think it's a better move for Houston.  I think Love would be a better fit with Harden and Howard than Melo would.  Plus, instead of simply trying to clear Asik and Lin for cap space to pursue Melo, they might be able to just trade Asik/Lin and pick(s) to Minny for Love.  Minny's going to need players, and it's definitely not a free agent destination.  Better fit, better return.  Only downside is that it might negate some of Love's rebounding with Howard down low, but as a stretch 4, he's pretty much unmatched.  Lanes would be more open for Harden.  Howard's the perfect rim protecting defensive compliment to Love.

I wouldn't see Anthony and Harden as complimenting each other at all. 

Of course, I'd rather get Love/Asik/Lin for us.  Still, Houston makes a ton of sense for him.

[Monkhouse]

Long term, I think it's a better move for Houston.  I think Love would be a better fit with Harden and Howard than Melo would.  Plus, instead of simply trying to clear Asik and Lin for cap space to pursue Melo, they might be able to just trade Asik/Lin and pick(s) to Minny for Love.  Minny's going to need players, and it's definitely not a free agent destination.  Better fit, better return.  Only downside is that it might negate some of Love's rebounding with Howard down low, but as a stretch 4, he's pretty much unmatched.  Lanes would be more open for Harden.  Howard's the perfect rim protecting defensive compliment to Love.

I wouldn't see Anthony and Harden as complimenting each other at all. 

Of course, I'd rather get Love/Asik/Lin for us.  Still, Houston makes a ton of sense for him.

100% agree.

Do you know what Love could possibly be for the Rockets? A souped up Ryan Anderson, with immense rebounding, far better defense than Anderson has, and has an actual post game. Ryan Anderson/Howard were a very deadly combo, and it fits within the Rockets philsophy. I was pretty sure at some point the Rockets were going to try to acquire Ryan Anderson. A stretch 4 would've probably won the Rockets, 3 or 4 extra games, at least.

[saltlover]

Long term, I think it's a better move for Houston.  I think Love would be a better fit with Harden and Howard than Melo would.  Plus, instead of simply trying to clear Asik and Lin for cap space to pursue Melo, they might be able to just trade Asik/Lin and pick(s) to Minny for Love.  Minny's going to need players, and it's definitely not a free agent destination.  Better fit, better return.  Only downside is that it might negate some of Love's rebounding with Howard down low, but as a stretch 4, he's pretty much unmatched.  Lanes would be more open for Harden.  Howard's the perfect rim protecting defensive compliment to Love.

I wouldn't see Anthony and Harden as complimenting each other at all. 

Of course, I'd rather get Love/Asik/Lin for us.  Still, Houston makes a ton of sense for him.

I'm not sure that's a good fit for Minny tho.  Their best players aside from Love are Pekovic, Rubio, and Martin.  Their fourth-best player might be Dieng.  While it's debatable whether Lin or Asik would be better than the aforementioned, if they are, the difference is minute, and if they aren't it's wasted talent.  On top of the $14 million more owed to Asik and Lin (I know it's not the salary cap, but it's still money, and Minny probably isn't as rich as most teams), I don't see why Minny would wind up preferring what Houston has to offer.

[BleedGreen1989]

Sure it sounds fun but the Rox don't have the assets.

Asik and Parsons ain't gettin it done. Even if they throw in some late round firsts.

[CoachBo]

Minny would have to be in a charitable mood to move Love to Houston.

There will be significantly better offers. Including from us.

[Rondohara]

Houston doesn't have the assets for the bidding war, so only if Love says he demands a trade there it would get done, and I don't think that it's the right move for Houston (nor Carmelo).

If I'm Houston, I'm thinking of adding a certain guy called Lebron James when he gets tired of his old friends (some with bad knees, others can't play at top level no more) in Southbeach, which should be soon. There is no better fit for Houston than James and vice-versa.

[Moranis]

Long term, I think it's a better move for Houston.  I think Love would be a better fit with Harden and Howard than Melo would.  Plus, instead of simply trying to clear Asik and Lin for cap space to pursue Melo, they might be able to just trade Asik/Lin and pick(s) to Minny for Love.  Minny's going to need players, and it's definitely not a free agent destination.  Better fit, better return.  Only downside is that it might negate some of Love's rebounding with Howard down low, but as a stretch 4, he's pretty much unmatched.  Lanes would be more open for Harden.  Howard's the perfect rim protecting defensive compliment to Love.

I wouldn't see Anthony and Harden as complimenting each other at all. 

Of course, I'd rather get Love/Asik/Lin for us.  Still, Houston makes a ton of sense for him.

I'm not sure that's a good fit for Minny tho.  Their best players aside from Love are Pekovic, Rubio, and Martin.  Their fourth-best player might be Dieng.  While it's debatable whether Lin or Asik would be better than the aforementioned, if they are, the difference is minute, and if they aren't it's wasted talent.  On top of the $14 million more owed to Asik and Lin (I know it's not the salary cap, but it's still money, and Minny probably isn't as rich as most teams), I don't see why Minny would wind up preferring what Houston has to offer.

I agree.  I think Houston would need to get some assets for at least one of Asik and Lin and then flip those along with Parsons and Jones for Love.  If I'm Minnesota I also make Houston take back some of my crappier contracts (like Brewer, Martin, Budinger)

Maybe something like this

3 team trade
Houston - Love, Martin, Brewer
Minnesota - Parsons (s/t), Jones, Lin, 2015 Clippers, 2015 Rockets, 2017 Rockets (or the 2014 Rockets rookie)
Boston - Asik

That seems like a fairly reasonable trade for all three teams.

[Mencius]

I'm not sure that's a good fit for Minny tho.  Their best players aside from Love are Pekovic, Rubio, and Martin.  Their fourth-best player might be Dieng.  While it's debatable whether Lin or Asik would be better than the aforementioned, if they are, the difference is minute, and if they aren't it's wasted talent.  On top of the $14 million more owed to Asik and Lin (I know it's not the salary cap, but it's still money, and Minny probably isn't as rich as most teams), I don't see why Minny would wind up preferring what Houston has to offer.

You're entirely right about less than ideal fit for Minny.  Certainly worse fit for them than they would be for us.  Guess I was hyper-focusing on the positive fit for Houston (and still had in mind what a good fit they'd be for us) and not giving Minny's current roster and needs their due consideration.   Not that they'd be bad there, but seeing as they're not needs, they'd likely go in another direction, and in fact would probably most like a cost controlled top 5 pick that they could sell yet more 'hope' on.  Boy, that must get old after umpteen trips to the lottery.

Anyway, my bad for not thinking it through for both sides.

Your honor, please strike this from the record.

[Mencius]

I agree.  I think Houston would need to get some assets for at least one of Asik and Lin and then flip those along with Parsons and Jones for Love.  If I'm Minnesota I also make Houston take back some of my crappier contracts (like Brewer, Martin, Budinger)

Maybe something like this

3 team trade
Houston - Love, Martin, Brewer
Minnesota - Parsons (s/t), Jones, Lin, 2015 Clippers, 2015 Rockets, 2017 Rockets (or the 2014 Rockets rookie)
Boston - Asik

That seems like a fairly reasonable trade for all three teams.

Yeah, that does seem fairly reasonable, although I can see Houston hating to give up the productive and super cheap Parsons (who's way better than Brewer.)  Those Rockets picks should be no earlier than mid 20s in the coming years, so not terrible to give up for them.  I guess the 2015 Clips pick and waivable contracts is our cost for Asik.    What with the uncertainty surrounding the Clips situation and pick, I might swap it out for one of our others to give them.  Then again, if I were a betting man, I'd guess the Clips will still have their core players next year despite the Sterling affair and again have a great record.

I suppose if I were Minny, I'd rather have our lottery pick, Sully or Kelly, and another first, or some variation on that (our lottery pick being the plum of all of that.)

Anyway, some of the other posts on this thread convinced me that I shoulda thought it through before posting   

I'd still rather help Houston do a straight salary dump, and we take Asik and Lin, and trade for Love better than just getting Asik for the Clips pick, although I'd consider that too, as any way you slice it, we need rim protection.

[Humble G]

I mentioned this in another post, that said what if hou traded harden, minny would say yes.

what if?

HOU trades Lin, Jones, Harden for Love, Martin, Shved?

then trades Asik for Bledsoe in a S&T?

HOU line up of:
Bledsoe, Martin, Parsons, Love, Dwight?

[Aymanelgowainy]

I mentioned this in another post, that said what if hou traded harden, minny would say yes.

what if?

HOU trades Lin, Jones, Harden for Love, Martin, Shved?

then trades Asik for Bledsoe in a S&T?

HOU line up of:
Bledsoe, Martin, Parsons, Love, Dwight?

That starting 5 isnt much better than this years excelt they would be trading away their entire bench...
Besides KMart and Budinger had their chances in HOU.. I doubt Houston would seek them in return..

[CM0]

Long term, I think it's a better move for Houston.  I think Love would be a better fit with Harden and Howard than Melo would.  Plus, instead of simply trying to clear Asik and Lin for cap space to pursue Melo, they might be able to just trade Asik/Lin and pick(s) to Minny for Love.  Minny's going to need players, and it's definitely not a free agent destination.  Better fit, better return.  Only downside is that it might negate some of Love's rebounding with Howard down low, but as a stretch 4, he's pretty much unmatched.  Lanes would be more open for Harden.  Howard's the perfect rim protecting defensive compliment to Love.

I wouldn't see Anthony and Harden as complimenting each other at all. 

Of course, I'd rather get Love/Asik/Lin for us.  Still, Houston makes a ton of sense for him.

Love is younger than Melo and probably a better player at this point, so he would probably make them better than Melo would. That being said, Houston absolutely doesn't have the pieces to make the deal. The wolves want picks and promising young players, ideally those on rookie salaries. They do not want or need expiring contracts (that's exactly what Love is at this point) or far lesser players than Love at a comparable age. Houston's picks are all relatively weak and will get even weaker with Love. Will never, ever happen straight up.

I don't think the 3 team trades make sense either as the teams with the assets to grab Love would want him for themselves. The one proposed above makes no sense: the wolves probably have no interest in any combination of picks from playoff teams.

Conversely, if Houston did have to give up all of those pieces for Love, they would get more value by just shedding some salary and making a run at a Melo-type in free agency. Assuming that Melo is available and thus an opportunity cost of sorts, Houston would be trading a bunch of picks ALONG with Melo's possible production for Love. Put differently, they would be trading a bunch of assets for the difference in value between Love and Melo.